Luanne Mendenhall Kent Christmas

Luanne Mendenhall Kent Christmas passed peacefully at home in Taylorsville, UT on June 1, 2017. Luanne was born to Dexter and Wilma Kent in Los Angeles, CA on July 17, 1932. She had three siblings and lifetime friends: Josephine, Dexter, and Ronald. Luanne grew up in Utah, Idaho and California. She played baseball and served on drill team - despite a shortened leg due to polio. She graduated from Modesto Junior College (CA) then earned a Bachelor of Home Economics from Utah State Agricultural College. After teaching junior high, she worked for Mt. Fuel demonstrating cooking on gas stoves to consumers wary of the new' appliance. She met Harlan at the Berthana ballroom in Ogden, Utah and married him in December of 1961. They had a daughter, Barbara, and later moved to Colorado - meeting friends Nell and Larry Barker - where their second daughter, Holly, was born. They returned to Utah where Luanne taught 1st grade and reading at Rose Park Elementary. After retiring, she taught reading at John C. Fremont Elementary. Luanne was a happy person with a quick wit. She loved life and was married to her best friend. She and Harlan were avid square dancers, travelers, cowboy poetry and music enthusiasts. Through example and collaboration, she taught her daughters to be independent, hard workers and to strive for improvement. A member of the LDS church, her favorite callings were leading singing or playing piano for Primary. Survived by her husband Harlan; children Barbara (Jeffery) and Holly (Shawn); grandchildren Sam, Chloe, and Zane; sister Josephine (Charles) Kleinman; and brother Ronald (Lorraine) Kent. Preceded in death by brother Dexter (Eunice) Kent. Luanne requested no services. If you would like to do something in her memory, consider donating a book to a public school or reading with a child. Place of Birth:Los Angeles, CaliforniaPlace of Death:Taylorsville, Utah